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08/11/2013

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08/08/2013

The holy and ancient Sri Krishna swami Temple is at the heart of the Mavelikara town and it faces towards the east. The main deity of this temple is the idol of Sri Krishna with both hands stretching out for butter. Centuries ago, this temple had belonged to the Idaserry Family. At the portal of the temple with architectural beauty, in the east, the temple guards made of flint are on guard duty.

THE LEGEND

A servant of the Idaserry Family, who was devoted to God once found a statue while he was clearing the land. The statue, which started bleeding as it had been struck, was brought to the Idaserry Family. As per astrological prediction, it was proved that the statue was that of Lord Krishna taking butter and that it had to be installed into a properly constructed temple. With the help from the king of Matathinkore a small temple was constructed and a temporary installation was made by Kulakkada Nampimatthham Pandaram, who was an expert in ta***ic rituals. For thevaram Velliyodu Potty and for kazhakam Thekkey Pisharam was appointed. The Kokkattu Family was to assist them. Adichan, who discovered the idol, got the title of Kerala Adichan and tax-free land and a house from the king. His family is known as Ooralaserry. The statue of Kerala Adichan made of jack wood and installed at Ooralaserry fills the minds of devotees with joy.

It is a historic truth that Mavelikara, which was the citadel of the Madathinkore royal family, had been a vassal of the Onattukara Kingdom. The Sri Krishna swami Temple was under the prestigious and powerful Idaserry Family of Mavelikara. The community ownership of the temple was obtained by the palace after ceding the Puthiyakavu Devi Temple to the Idaserry Family.

By accepting the request of the Mavelikara Palace the old Krishna swami was renovated into its present form. The roof of the sanctum sanctorum is cast with copper. Anecdotal, velakulam and the compound wall are the peculiar features of the temple.

In front of the small anakottil around thirty feet height is the pillar lamp made of bell metal. Four armed guards encircle the lamp. Legend has it the jubilant soldiers of Marthanda Varma the king of Venadu instituted this lamp. They were happy because Marthanda Varma made Mavelikara, the capital of Madathinkore Kingdom a part of Venadu.

To the north of the temple on east west is the banquet hall capable of accommodating a thousand people. This banquet hall was to serve the purpose of taking food and taking rest for the Brahmin scholars who used to go on foot to the Sri Padmanabhaswami Temple to take part in the ritual of Murajapam.

There was a very beautiful garden to the north of the banquet hall on the eastern side. In the past flowers from this garden were sufficient to fulfil the requirements of all the temples under the Mavelikara Devaswam. This garden was known as the Garden of God.

The vakacharthu of the Sri Guruvayur Sri Krishna swami Temple is evidently very famous. Among the temples under the Travancore Devaswam, the Sri Krishna swami Temple at Mavelikara is the only one where Vakacharthu takes place. The custom of parading Lord Krishna on Garuda Vahana is prevalent only at the temples of Aranmula and Mavelikara.

In the whole of the month of Vrischikam according to the Malayalam Calendar, in connection with the Athazha Seeveli this parading of Lord Krishna is conducted. This ritual had its origin as an offering during the reign of the king Sri Moolam Thirunal.

Years ago, the holy bath of Lord Krishna was in the Achankovil River to the north of the Michel Junction. The rock on which the Lord was offered worship after His bath is still there. Now His holy bath takes place at the Kandiyur Snanaghattam.

The other deities of the temple are Ganapathi and the Navagrahas. There are pujas performed every day. As the holy bath (Arattu) should take on the day of Thiruvonam in the Malayalam month of Meenam, the temple ten days of festival every year. The main offering during the festival is the Dasavatharacharthu. The Thrikkay Vennayootu and the Garuda Vahana Parade are the main offerings of the temple. Unnikrishnan, the elephant of this temple is one of the most splendid elephants of the Travancore temples. Srimath Bhagavatha Yajnam has been taking place in the temple for thirty-four years. Tanks to:www.sreekrishnaswamitemple.com

10/07/2013

മാവേലിക്കര എന്ന സ്ഥലനാമത്തിന്റെ ഉത്ഭവത്തെക്കുറിച്ച് നിരവധി നിഗമനങ്ങളുണ്ട്. “മാ” എന്നാൽ മഹാലക്ഷ്മിയെന്നൊരു അർത്ഥമുണ്ട്. “വേലി” എന്ന പദത്തിനാകട്ടെ കാവൽ എന്ന അർത്ഥവും. ഐശ്വര്യദേവതയായ മഹാലക്ഷ്മി കാവൽ നിൽക്കുന്ന നാട് എന്ന അർത്ഥത്തിലാണ് മാവേലിക്കര എന്ന സ്ഥലനാമമുണ്ടായതെന്ന ഐതീഹ്യത്തിന്റെ പിന്നിലെ കഥ ഇതാണ്. എന്നാൽ വ്യക്തവും, യുക്തിഭദ്രവുമായ മറ്റൊരു നിഗമനം ഇങ്ങനെയാണ്. “മാ” യും, “വേലി” യും സംഘകാലത്തെ അളവുകോലുകൾ ആയിരുന്നുവത്രെ. അതിനാൽ, അളന്നാൽ തീരാത്തത്ര നെല്ലു വിളയുന്ന സ്ഥലം അഥവാ അതിരില്ലാത്ത കര എന്ന അർത്ഥത്തിൽ മാവേലിക്കര എന്ന സ്ഥലനാമമുണ്ടായി. കുടല്ലൂർ ദേശത്ത് ഭരണം നടത്തിയിരുന്ന മാവേലി രാജവംശത്തിന്റെ അധികാരാതിർത്തിയിലുൾപ്പെട്ടിരുന്ന സ്ഥലമായതിനാലാണ് മാവേലിക്കര എന്ന സ്ഥലനാമമുണ്ടായതെന്നു വ്യത്യസ്തമായ മറ്റൊരു അഭിപ്രായവും കേൾക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. എന്നാൽ മാവേലിക്കരയും, മാവേലിയും തമ്മിൽ പേരിലുള്ള സമാനത മാത്രമേയുള്ളൂ എന്നാണ് ചരിത്രമതം

05/03/2013

Narendra Prasad

Narendra Prasad (26 December 1946 - 3 November 2003) was a popular Indian movie actor, playwright, director, teacher and literary critic. He was born at Mavelikara, Alappuzha District, in the south Indian state of Kerala.

He studied at Bishop Moore College,Mavelikkara for the Pre-degree and at N. S. S. College, Pandalam, for his degree (in Mathematics) and Institute of English,University of Kerala for post-graduation in English Language and Literature. A voracious reader in Malayalam and English, Narendra Prasad distinguished himself as a potential man of letters even as a degree student. He used to take part in the Malayalam and English literary discussions, debates and competitions organised at the college and university levels, and won prizes.

Narendra Prasad started his career as a college teacher; he joined Bishop Moore College in 1967 as lecturer in English. He got into government service in 1968, and worked as Lecturer at Govt. Victoria College, Palakkad, and Govt. Arts College, Trivandrum, and as Professor at University College, Thiruvananthapuram. In 1989 while working as Professor of English at University College,he was selected for the prestigious post of Director,School of Letters of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam. He continued in this post till his demise.He is survived by his wife,Nanda Prasad, and two daughters Deepa and Nrutha.

Narendra Prasad's love of theatre prompted him to create "Natyagriham", a drama troupe, in the early 1980s. He composed, directed and produced plays for the troupe. Some of those who associated themselves with "Natyagriham" later became great actors in Malayalam films-- 'Bharat' Murali, Gopakumar, Aliyar Kunju and Rashid, to name a few. Kaithapram Damodaran Nambudiri, the noted Malayalam lyricist, used to compose music for the troupe.

Prasad's noted literary works include the novel "Alanjavar Anveshichavar" , the critical works entitled "Nishedhikalae Manasilakku", "Adhunikathinte Madyanu", "Ente Sahitya Nirupanangal" ,"Jadi Paranjal Enthe", and the critically acclaimed and award-winning play "Souparnilka". It is as a playwright and critic that Prasad became known in the Malayalam literary world. He won the Sangeetha Nataka and Sahitya Akademi awards for his contributions to drama.

Movies
Narendra Prasad got into the tinsel world while working at the School of Letters. He earned recognition as a talented actor with his powerful portrayal of semi-villanous characters. His hit films include Thalasthanam,Paithrukam, Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans, Ekalavyan, Yadavam, Ulsava Melam, Njangal Santhushtaranu", Ustaad, Vazhunnor, Krishnaguddiyile Oru Pranayagatha and Susanna. He acted in over 150 films, winning the State Award for the 'Best Supporting Actor' for "Paithrukam.".

Television
Towards the second half of the nineties he ventured into television. Shayama Prasad's tele-film Perupazhyile Kariyilakayal, was Prasad's first venture on the small screen.

03/03/2013